Here is a look at whose stock is rising and falling in Miami:
Falling
1. Run defense: This has been a mystery for the Dolphins. Just two weeks ago, they were the NFL's No. 2 defense and No. 8 against the run. Suddenly, Miami's defense forgot its fundamentals against the run. The tackling has been poor, the bad run fits and missed assignments are constant, and players are not winning one-on-one matchups. The Jets andDenver Broncos have combined for 478 rushing yards against Miami in the past two games. If this pace continues, the Dolphins will not make the playoffs.
Satele
2. Samson Satele, center: Miami's center is having a solid year overall. But Satele struggled at times against the Jets with their bigger defensive tackles. Satele gave up a quarterback sack to Jets defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis and failed to pick up a linebacker blitz by David Harris that led to a second sack. Satele needs to have a bounce-back performance against the Baltimore Ravens and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
3. Caleb Sturgis, kicker: Miami's second-year kicker didn't have his best game. He missed a 43-yard field goal wide left and botched a squib kick that went out of bounds. The goal was to avoid dynamic Jets returner Percy Harvin, but Sturgis didn’t execute. Fortunately for Sturgis, the inconsistent kicking didn't cost Miami in a close game.
Rising
1. Jelani Jenkins, linebacker: Jenkins is one of Miami’s biggest success stories. The second-year player was a backup and afterthought entering training camp. But a season-ending injury to Dannell Ellerbe put Jenkins in the starting lineup, and Jenkins has thrived. He registered 16 tackles and two tackles for loss against New York. He also had good coverage on Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland on the game-ending interception thrown by quarterback Geno Smith. Jenkins proved this year that he’s a future building block on this defense.
Landry
2. Jarvis Landry, receiver: The stock of the Dolphins' second-round pick continues to rise. Landry led the team with eight receptions for 68 yards against the Jets. Landry now is Miami's leading receiver with 57 receptions. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has developed a comfort level and trust with Landry, who plays well beyond his years.
3. Home schedule: The Dolphins currently hold the final wild-card spot in the AFC. But things remain wide open with a six-way tie for the No. 6 seed. Miami has one advantage in its favor with three home games in the final four weeks. It starts Sunday against the Ravens (7-5) -- another playoff hopeful -- and ends with back-to-back home games against the Minnesota Vikings (5-7) and Jets (2-10). The Dolphins have a strong shot at the postseason if they can play well at home.
http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/12073/miami-dolphins-stock-watch-34
Falling
1. Run defense: This has been a mystery for the Dolphins. Just two weeks ago, they were the NFL's No. 2 defense and No. 8 against the run. Suddenly, Miami's defense forgot its fundamentals against the run. The tackling has been poor, the bad run fits and missed assignments are constant, and players are not winning one-on-one matchups. The Jets andDenver Broncos have combined for 478 rushing yards against Miami in the past two games. If this pace continues, the Dolphins will not make the playoffs.
Satele
2. Samson Satele, center: Miami's center is having a solid year overall. But Satele struggled at times against the Jets with their bigger defensive tackles. Satele gave up a quarterback sack to Jets defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis and failed to pick up a linebacker blitz by David Harris that led to a second sack. Satele needs to have a bounce-back performance against the Baltimore Ravens and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
3. Caleb Sturgis, kicker: Miami's second-year kicker didn't have his best game. He missed a 43-yard field goal wide left and botched a squib kick that went out of bounds. The goal was to avoid dynamic Jets returner Percy Harvin, but Sturgis didn’t execute. Fortunately for Sturgis, the inconsistent kicking didn't cost Miami in a close game.
Rising
1. Jelani Jenkins, linebacker: Jenkins is one of Miami’s biggest success stories. The second-year player was a backup and afterthought entering training camp. But a season-ending injury to Dannell Ellerbe put Jenkins in the starting lineup, and Jenkins has thrived. He registered 16 tackles and two tackles for loss against New York. He also had good coverage on Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland on the game-ending interception thrown by quarterback Geno Smith. Jenkins proved this year that he’s a future building block on this defense.
Landry
2. Jarvis Landry, receiver: The stock of the Dolphins' second-round pick continues to rise. Landry led the team with eight receptions for 68 yards against the Jets. Landry now is Miami's leading receiver with 57 receptions. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has developed a comfort level and trust with Landry, who plays well beyond his years.
3. Home schedule: The Dolphins currently hold the final wild-card spot in the AFC. But things remain wide open with a six-way tie for the No. 6 seed. Miami has one advantage in its favor with three home games in the final four weeks. It starts Sunday against the Ravens (7-5) -- another playoff hopeful -- and ends with back-to-back home games against the Minnesota Vikings (5-7) and Jets (2-10). The Dolphins have a strong shot at the postseason if they can play well at home.
http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/12073/miami-dolphins-stock-watch-34
